Live from The Rock

[Michael Kilduff]

I know the weather has been terrible for the last 2 years at this race, but usually October is a good month for racing in the Carolinas. Race engines like the air and October is usually the month with the least amount of rainfall from the hit of spring through the end of fall.

I really feel for everyone involved and I hope you have a fast and safe race today.

[Beth Denysenko]

It would be fast if we could get enough heat into the track. We cannot get a decent 60' save for one pass this whole weekend. And we aren't alone. It's not at the initial hit, its a few feet out it's all ripped up. The poor stockers, most of the high wheelstanders had trouble, Jim Marshall popped up for a blink, but back down as he got out a few feet.

I have uploaded more pictures from both Stock & SuperStock this morning. Here's the link:
http://community.webshots.com/album/575201849gZKZIK

It's under the same album from before, so you will have to go to the end. About 45 pictures. A few new cars this morning. They are calling Stock & Hot Rod Sportsnationals cars right now, we should be going up very very soon. Better get ready to go!

[j gardiner]

There are alot of reasons why this race turned into a cluster. The track is crap they had problems the week before at the bracket finals. They were having problems on friday and it was almost 80 degrees. They spent most of the day either trying to fix the track or hauling cars to the junkyard. It rained for about 15 minutes around 6 p.m. that race could have and should have been done on friday. I have been down there a few times over the last several years and it doesn't look like there has been a dime spent on that track. The shut down area is so rough bumpy and short to the turn offs and you know they don't spray that part all you need is a little dampness or sand all you have to do is touch the brakes and around they go.

[Beth Denysenko]

They called it. It's done. Go home. Alex is in the finals of the Sportsnationals - he and Pete D are in the tower right now figuring it all out. I am packing up, will post more later.

[buzzinhalfdozen]

WOW, that has to really be a let down after all those days at the track to be stopped right at the finals. Alex you did a fine job, you all be safe going home. Joe

[Beth Denysenko]

Thanks Joe . . . what a way to end the year. We are almost packed up, they had us come down and take our Divisional win pictures and get the trophies & checks. They also had a nice spread of food for those who would brave the rain. I have put the last pictures up from the winner's circle. More later.

[Marvin Robinson]

Alex & Beth,

Congrats on a terrific performance, I'm convinced that Mother Nature was the only competitor that was gonna beat ya... wonderful updates, Beth, and Alex, have a nice trip back, I guess dinner will be big celebration.... you certainly earned it!


Marvin

[Beth Denysenko]

Live, Still from The Rock.

We decided to stay the night here and just pull out as early as we can. We are both mentally and physically drained to the point of exhaustion. I had no idea how much energy waiting took. But waiting is a verb, and action word, and it killed us. We were in the staging lanes waiting to run the final against Pete D'Angelo and it started sprinkling. Again. They sent us back and within ten minutes, the harbinger of bad news came on the PA. Poor Scooter Peaco - the only time we heard from him was when it was bad news.

IHRA did everything they could to give us a safe racetrack. It was just a combination of too cold, too much cold wind, no sun and too often wet to get this done. We spent more fuel going back and forth to the lanes and warming up than we did making runs, I think.

I don't know what IHRA is going to do, we will all wait. Alex and Pete are going to run for the contigency $ and trophy at a later event, maybe Martin next year. The rest flipped for the wins. Congrats to all the other sportsman winners. And congrats to everyone else who hung in there and tried to get this done. We did all we could and there was nothing left to do short of putting a monster tarp over the whole track. That was the last viable solution, which really isn't very viable. At least we gave it every effort.

[Dave Turner]

Not to make light of your personal experience Beth, but I can tell you, it was emotionally draining to follow the results, (or lack of, actually) from the armchair. How you guys maintained your focus, I'll forever be guessing.

[ChevyII]

Beth and Alex,

You fought the hard fight and you should hold your heads up high. You made it to the final!!!

As for feeling exhausted, after 6 days and having enough adrenaline pumping in the body after each trip to the staging lanes, we can all understand why. A good nights sleep will help in your journey home.

I know IHRA did what it could do to get this race off but I think they were their own worst enemy. Trying to stage as many special races within a race all in the same weekend was "trouble" from the get go.

A good friend of ours made the long journey from the "great white north" on the assumption he would be able to compete in the TOC scheduled on Friday. Now he goes home (as do many others) with little to show for winning an IHRA national event and the memories of a forgettable weekend. His impression of the IHRA was not stellar to begin with. Can't imagine what he is thinking now.....

Another racer from Canada with two entries into the TOC chose to attend another race this weekend. I am sure his entire family stands behind their decision.

Someone had to say it!

Mike